
he journeyed, came where he was; and
when he saw him, he had compassion
on him, and went to him, and bound up
his wounds, pouring in oil and wine,
and set him on his own beast, and
brought him to an inn, and took care
of him. And on the morrow when he de-
parted, he took out two pence, and
gave them to the host, and said unto
him, Take care of him: and whatsoever
thou spendest more, when I come again,
I will repay thee. Which now of these
three, thinkest thou, was neighbor unto
him that fell among the thieves? And
he said, He that showed mercy on him.
Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do
thou likewise."
Here the conditions of inheriting eter-
nal life are plainly stated by our Saviour
in the most simple manner. The man
wounded and robbed represents those
who are subjects of our interest, sym-
pathy, and charity. If we neglect the
cases of the needy and the unfortunate
that are brought under our notice, no
matter who they may be, we have no
assurance of eternal life; for we do not
answer the claims that God has upon
us. We are not compassionate and piti-
ful to humanity, because they may not
be kith or kin to us. All such are found
transgressors of the second great com-
mandment, upon which the last six
commandments depend. Whosoever of-
fendeth in one point, he is guilty of all.
Those who do not open their hearts to
the wants and sufferings of humanity,
will not open their hearts to the claims
of God stated in the first four precepts
of the decalogue. Idols claim the heart
and affections, and God is not honored
and does not reign supreme.
Some are quite exact in some things,
yet neglect the weightier matters—judg-
ment, mercy, and the love of God. Al-
though the customs of the world are no
criterion for us, yet the pitying sympathy
and the benevolence of the world for
the unfortunate, in many cases, shame
the professed followers of Jesus Christ.
Many manifest indifference to the cases
of those whom God has thrown in their
midst for the purpose of testing and
proving them, and developing what is
in their hearts. God reads. He marks
every act of selfishness, every act of
indifference to the afflicted, the widows,
and the fatherless; and he writes against
their names,
Guilty, wanting, law-break-
ers.
We shall be rewarded as our works
have been. Any neglect of duty to the
needy and to the afflicted is a neglect
of duty to Christ in the person of his
saints.
When the cases of all come in re-
view before God, the question, What
did they profess? is never asked, but,
What have they done? Have they been
doers of the word? Have they lived for
themselves? or have they been exer-
cised in works of benevolence, in deeds
of kindness, in love, preferring others
before themselves, and denying them-
selves that they might bless others? If
the record shows that this has been
their life, that their characters have been
marked with tenderness, self-denial, and
benevolence, they will receive the
blessed assurance and benediction from
Christ, "Well done," "Come, ye blessed
of my Father, inherit the kingdom pre-
pared for you from the foundation of the
world." Christ has been grieved and
wounded by our marked selfish love, and
indifference to the woes and needs of
others.
Many times our efforts may be dis-
regarded and apparently lost upon oth-
ers. But this should be no excuse for
us to become weary in well-doing. How
often has Jesus come to find fruit upon
the plants of his care, and found noth-
ing but leaves! We may be disappointed
as to the result of our best efforts; but
this should not lead us to be indifferent
to others' woes, and to do nothing.
"Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the
Lord, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants
thereof; because they came not to the
help of the Lord, to the help of the Lord
against the mighty." How often is Christ
disappointed in those who profess to be
his children! He has given them unmis-
takable evidences of his love. He be-
came poor, that through his poverty we
might be made rich. He died for us, that
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